Riders race around a corner at the New Zealand BMX Championships. Photo / Cycling New Zealand
Riders race around a corner at the New Zealand BMX Championships. Photo / Cycling New Zealand
Maddy Newcombe is only 8 but already she's making a name for herself on the national BMX stage - and having Rotorua's new international-standard track on her doorstop is a massive bonus.
Qualifying first in the finals after winning six motos at the BMX National Championships in Rotorua at theweekend, the little ripper was tipped to take out first place.
But she hooned down the ramp at such speed, showing she was the one to catch, that there was a mishap at the bottom resulting in a tumble.
But despite missing out on taking the finals glory and nursing some pretty impressive grazes before heading off to camp this week, the Year 5 Lynmore School pupil is all thumbs up for Rotorua's new BMX track.
Maddy Newcombe from Rotorua is making a name for herself on the BMX stage. Photo / Supplied
The nationals was the first big event for the $1.3 million track that was opened at the end of 2019.
Maddy's mum, Nikki Newcombe, said it was a tough lesson in sport for her daughter to learn at the weekend especially after having the honour of officially declaring the national championships open on Saturday morning on behalf of the Rotorua BMX Club.
"It's just racing that's all, but this won't stop her."
Newcombe said Rotorua was so lucky to have such an outstanding track.
Riders of all ages produced intense, high-speed racing at the Rotorua BMX track. Photo / Cycling New Zealand
Rotorua BMX Club president Aimee McGregor said there were more than 500 riders from juniors to seniors competing in the nationals at the weekend, about 20 of whom were locals.
She said the riders brought hundreds of family and friends with them to Rotorua and the event attracted even more locals who just came to take in the action as spectators.
The track was the talk of the crowd with all those there amazed, she said.
"It's just an amazing facility. It's got location close to town, the forest backdrop and the clubrooms facilities."
Some high flying action from the New Zealand BMX Championships in Rotorua. Photo / Cycling New Zealand
She said it was also one of only a couple of tracks in New Zealand that had a full circuit for elite riders, with both 5m and 8m ramps.
The pandemic put a stop to events being held at the track last year but McGregor said they had big hopes of winning the World Cup event, which was usually held the year before the Olympics.
She said that could be as soon as 2023 and those close to the club were already planning their bid with high hopes of securing it.
"If we can secure that, it would be an amazing spectacle. It's a big deal to get it but we will put in a good bid because we have got lots of fabulous support and partners which is a big part of making it possible."
Rotorua's international-standard BMX track was a hit with the 500 riders at the weekend for the national championships. Photo / Supplied
She said already the club was growing as a result of the new track and they were seeing a particular surge in numbers for the young riders.
She said Maddy Newcombe and Max Olsen were definitely ones to watch in the future and were proving role models for the new riders.
